The Otis Michigan Inmate Search Controversy: Experts Weigh In

Michigan doesn't have a murderer registry, but the state's offender tracking information system, otis, allows for a limited public search about murderers and other violent offenders living. A search result will provide information about any offender who is, or was, in a michigan prison, on parole or probation under the supervision of the mdoc, has transferred in or out of michigan under the michigan interstate compact, or who has escaped or absconded from their sentence. You can search for a current inmate or convicted felon by name or department of corrections number. After a conviction, a person is entered into the otis system and remains in the system. Instructions on looking up any michigan inmate, parolee, supervised release or discharged prisoner.

Information about prisoners and parolees who have discharged from their sentences and who are not being currently supervised by, or under the jurisdiction of, the mdoc is not contained on otis. You will only find an absconder in otis if the absconder was under the jurisdiction of the michigan department of corrections. Persons sentenced to jail or probation are typically under local jurisdiction (i. e. The mdoc has jurisdiction of those sentenced to state prison. The offender tracking information system (otis) contains information about prisoners, parolees, and probationers who are currently under supervision, or who have been discharged but are still within three years of their supervision discharge date.